The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Diesel Switch?

I have a 1964 Chevy 1/2t 4x4 currently it has a 350 gas engine i'm contemplating about switching it to a diesel and i want to know if its even posible or am going to have to change everything. It has a Dana 44 front axle GM Corp. 12 bolt Rear axle (3.73 gears i believe) SM465 Trans, and NP205 T-case if its even posible to bolt it up to what i have is the weight going to be an issue or is there a diesel thats small enough (were weight won't be an issue) but with enough power to pull a decent sized gooseneck?

Nate

If you go with a 6.2, 6.5, or 6.6 Duramax, it should be able to be done without too many issues. The real trick is going to be getting the correct bellhousing, as I don't think that the Deisels use the same pattern as the SBC. Trans shouldn't be an issue.
1 question, though. How big of a goosneck are you wanting to tow? To be perfectly honest, if you're wanting to tow a gooseneck, you really should consider at least a 3/4 ton truck, or better yet, a 1 ton w/dual wheels. 1/2 tons don't hold up very well under the streeses of a gooseneck trailer.

The 6.2-6.5 fit right in & bolt up to the same bell housing. I believe you use big block engine mounts. They arn,t real powerful though. You could get a turbo charger vkit though.

There is a Stovebolter rdavid that has/had a 64 4X4 panel or burb with a 4-53 Detroit. I corresponded with him when I was researching a diesel conversion in my 50 3600. He is a nice guy and will probably be gald to share some info. I have not seen him on here in awhile. Do a search for him in the members list and send him a PM if interested. I also saw 3 or 4 videos on youtube of a guy with a 64-66 4X4 with a 4-53. Lots of challenges to a diesel repower. There are whole websites and email/discussion boards about that. One dedictated to the 6.2/6.5/Duramax and a popular yahoo group for the Cummins 4BT. A guy over on oldgmctrucks.com put a Cummins 5.9 Dodge Ram in a 49 3800 1-ton. Cool or what? Good luck.

I have everything needed to bolt a Cummins B (either the 4B or the 6B) engine to a GM trans.

The 6.2 or 6.5 is your easiest and most practical swap.
Go for the later engine with a turbo and power is acceptable, but not spectacular.

Any more engine both power and weight wise and you should be looking for a 3/4 or 1 ton frame and axles.
Many people have done larger diesel swaps on small trucks, but I don't like the idea, I guess if you never load the truck it's one thing, but for a useful truck that's another...

A Cummins 6 cylinder from a Dodge is probably the best swap for power, reliability, parts availability, and bolt on / plug in horsepower potential. A tad heavy for a Dana 44, as Dodge had their own bunch of problems with the Dana 60 under the Cummins.

I like Detroit's, check out my two converted trucks on the link below.

Grigg

i appologize for not replying sooner because i couldn't find it, i know a 1/2 ton is not the greatest but its a start i'm going to look for bigger axles and the frame can be strengthened but biggest problems is if i wanted to go to a 3/4ton 1 ton frame is that i'd have to find an original for this truck thats 4x4 or find a suburban frame that is of those tonages because the frame that i have under the truck is a 78 suburban frame
rdavid- what parts would you sugest i look for i would like to keep my setup the way it is just a diesel engine instead of gas and my t-case is married to the trans (the drivetrain is all 78 +/- a few years) just the body is a 64 i'd go for buy the parts that you have but there is a few problems i don't have money available for it right now and sidney b.c. is a ways to drive with a pickup (have to save a ton just for gas) but i would like to know what would you recomend i should change or what is the best to go for
thanks
Nate

the thing i never understand is why i never hear much good about the 6.2 and 6.5 diesel because the millitary uses those engines in the Hummers and their 1 1/4 ton pickups in my opinion i don't think the millitary would use something thats junk....
Nate

The military must have had problems with the 6.2 because a quick google search will turn up hundreds of 6.2's pulled out of Hummers for sale.

I hear the 6.2 had a 50% chance of early death in the military trucks. The early 6.5 was nothing special. Then the last 6.5s with turbo was an acceptable engine, but still nothing special, and defiantly not a heavy duty engine, just satisfactory in a lighter vehicle.

Grigg

To me it means the engine, and others identical to it, have few if any reoccurring problems, like heads cracking, bad crank shafts, and so on. That they are not to costly to work on. an "acceptable" engine would be reliable, but not perfect.
An engine that is better than acceptable will have an outstanding reputation, last for many many miles, have good power and performance for the weight and size.

I have not run a 6.5 with turbo, but from friends who have or have had them I get the impression that they are simply "acceptable" and nothing special.

"acceptable" to me also means I would run one if given to me in a drive-able vehicle, but I would never spend money to get one.

Grigg

A 4-53 is more than acceptable.
A 4-53T is not quite outstanding, but close...
Obviously my first choice, and yours too?

While I like them, I realize that not everyone is, or will be, a Detroit Diesel two cycle fan, so..
For a diesel about 4-53T size the 5.9 Cummins has a lot going for it. Great reputation and reliability, great power, and lots of cheap potential for more power.

Grigg

rdavid, i am gonna take a stab and say that grigg will tell you the 4-53 is an outstanding engine as from reading through alot of his posts it seems as though he has had some good luck with them, one thing to consider about the 6.2 or 6.5 swap that some people might not tell you involves teh injector pump.... i am a general motors employee and i will even tell you that they are garbage. there is a reason when you spend the $ to have the dealer install a new one it has a 10yr 100k warranty.... you'll need it and GM knows it so to retain there cust that have that set up they offer a warranty like that, that you more than likely will need to take advantage of.. just another $.02 from me though
~army truck

i appreciate all the input they way it seems i may be ending up going with the 6.2 as stated they are everywhere and i'm sure i could snatch up a few of them from a millitary surplus store/yard i would like to know a few specs. on the engine if anybody knows 1.what kind of power do they have and if needed can more be made easily? 2.what type of gears did most trucks have that had these engines? 3.what type of fuel econmy is to be expected? 4.finally if i were to get one from a salvage yard what other parts would i want to take off the donor truck? also is it posible to keep the stock fuel tank?
Nate